Written Answers

Friday 24 March 2000

Scottish Executive

Barbed and Razor Wire

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the effectiveness of current legislation affecting the use of barbed and razor wire.

Mr Jim Wallace: As part of the legislation which we intend to bring forward to establish a right of access to land, there will be powers to enable local authorities to order the removal of obstructions such as barbed and razor wire erected to prevent the exercise of the new right. Other than this, we have no plans at present to review the effectiveness of the law affecting the use of barbed and razor wire.

Cape Wrath Bombing Range

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will invite appropriate agencies to monitor and report on any sea and land pollution following the shelling of the Cape Wrath environment by the US Navy and whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government to seek compensation from the United States Government, similar to that offered to Puerto Rico, for any environmental damage caused to the area by such bombing.

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government regarding any potential damage to the environment and wildlife of the Cape Wrath area from recent bombing exercises by foreign navies and, if so, when it will make such representations and whether it will make details of such representations available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Sarah Boyack: I refer Ms Elder to the answer I gave her on Thursday 16 March ( Official Report,  column 788) .  The Scottish Executive does not intend to make any such representations to Her Majesty’s Government.

Climate Charge Levy

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations have been made to Her Majesty's Government regarding possible exemption from the climate charge levy for Scottish consumers, especially industrial consumers, who use a greater amount of electricity generated from hydro-power than consumers in the rest of the UK and so contribute less to greenhouse gas emissions.

Henry McLeish: Following representations, the Chancellor announced in his pre-Budget statement that he had decided to exempt "new" renewables from the Climate Change Levy (CCL). Only non-domestic energy consumers will pay CCL, and they will be able to obtain exemption by purchasing electricity from all renewable sources excluding large hydro schemes. A certification system will be put in place to ensure that electricity for which exemption has been sought has in fact been sourced from qualifying renewable generation capacity. Exemption will be available to any company which purchases qualifying renewable energy, no matter where in the UK the company is located or the whereabouts of the renewable generation.

Environment

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of and publish a timetable for the implementation of a programme of strategic environmental assessment.

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to establish a cross-sector working group to review and advise on strategic environmental assessment best practice and, if so, whether it will provide details of the proposed group.

Sarah Boyack: The EC Directive on Strategic Environmental Assessment is not yet finalised. The current draft allows member states three years to transpose its requirements into national law.

Environment

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to bring forward a Bill on strategic environmental assessment.

Sarah Boyack: We have no plans at this stage.

Fisheries

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact climate change has on Scottish fish stocks.

Mr John Home Robertson: Fisheries Research Services in Aberdeen is actively engaged in research on ocean climate and fisheries. However, it is currently not possible to predict the effect of climate change on fish stocks due to the complex nature of the interaction between climate and marine ecosystems. The observed warming of waters around the UK might be expected to favour species of southern origin at the expense of northern adapted species – though it is not clear whether this trend will continue or is merely a temporary phenomenon.

Fisheries

David McLetchie (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive on what basis, under the Scotland Act 1998, it has the power to adopt its declared policy of not compensating for losses arising from fish disease, and whether this is compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.

Mr John Home Robertson: The Scottish Executive is content that the policy which implements our obligations under Community law in respect of fish diseases is compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights. However the matter has been referred to the European Court of Justice and we await the outcome.

Fisheries

David McLetchie (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to the statement made to the Parliament by the Deputy Minister for Rural Affairs on 16 September 1999, which previous Government established the policy of not compensating for losses arising from fish diseases and to specify the official publication(s) in which a statement of this established policy is set out.

Mr John Home Robertson: The Scottish Executive does not have access to papers belonging to previous UK administrations. However it is worth pointing out that the policy is fully documented in the context of an outbreak of Viral Haemorrhagic Septicaemia on the Island of Gigha in 1994.

Flood Prevention

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce the outcome of its evaluation of further flood prevention measures in Kilmarnock and Loudoun.

Sarah Boyack: I am fully aware of the recent flooding in Kilmarnock and Loudoun and of the concerns of those affected. Scottish Executive officials have been consulted informally on East Ayrshire Council’s proposed programme of works for reducing flood risk in its area and, in principle, are satisfied with the council’s proposals.

  It is for the council, in conjunction with its consultants, to take forward these proposals and to submit formal Flood Prevention Schemes to the Executive to seek the necessary powers and resources to proceed with the work. It is also for the council to decide on the timing of any work it intends to carry out and to obtain the agreement of the parties concerned.

Fuel Duty

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to extend the Fuel Duty Rebate scheme to post buses.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive has no plans at present to extend Fuel Duty Rebate beyond local registered bus services.

Health

David McLetchie (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the value is, both in monetary terms and in terms of number of treatment episodes, of contracts for private clinical care purchased by the NHS either centrally, by health board or by NHS trust for each of the years from 1995-96 to 1999-2000.

Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive does not collect information about the use of the private sector by the NHS, nor does the NHS itself have complete national data. Decisions on the use of the private sector are made at operational level by health boards and NHS Trusts, should the need arise.

Information Technology

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to monitor any groups who are without access to all the elements required for full participation in information technology, as mentioned in the Cabinet Office Report, e-commerce@its.best.uk.

Ms Wendy Alexander: We are determined that nobody should be left behind as we move into the information age. Last November, when we set out our social justice targets, they included a milestone of accelerating the number of households in disadvantaged areas with access to the Internet. The Scottish Household Survey produces quarterly statistics indicating the number of Scottish households with Internet access from home. In disadvantaged areas, Social Inclusion Partnerships are required to monitor the percentage of households with Internet access from home and also the percentage of households with at least one adult who has Internet access elsewhere.

Information Technology

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is taking steps to provide government services online as identified as a commitment in the Cabinet Office Report, e-commerce@its.best.uk.

Mr Jack McConnell: Yes. I set out the current position and our plans in response to S1W-2859 on 1 December 1999.

Justice

Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider adding an annual uplift for inflation to the proposed ceiling of £1,500 for small claims and £5,000 for summary causes.

Mr Jim Wallace: I intend to ask officials to undertake a consultation exercise every three to five years to establish the extent to which it is necessary to increase these limits. I would bring forward orders seeking to increase these limits beyond that required to reflect inflation if it were demonstrated that this would improve the administration of justice in civil courts in Scotland.

Justice

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what was the number of cases brought before the courts against drivers considered to be unfit to drive due to the effects of drugs abuse in each of the years 1996-97, 1997-98 and 1998-99.

Mr Jim Wallace: The following table gives the available information. It is not possible to identify which of the offences proceeded against under sections 4(1) or 4(2) of the Road Traffic Act 1988 involved drugs. 1998 is the latest year for which figures are currently available.

  Offences proceeded against in Scottish courts under section 4(1) or 4(2) of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (driving, or being in charge, when under the influence of drink or drugs)

  


Crime

  

1996

  

1997

  

1998

  



Driving 

  while unfit through drink or drugs

  

635

  

720

  

508

  



In charge 

  while unfit through drink or drugs

  

55

  

76

  

124

Justice

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what was the number of cases that were brought before the Courts against drivers considered to be unable to drive through alcohol and drug impairment where alcohol levels were beneath the statutory limit in each of the years 1996-97, 1997-98 and 1998-99.

Mr Jim Wallace: Information is not available on drivers who have not exceeded the statutory limit for alcohol. The number of offences proceeded against in respect of persons driving or attempting to drive, or in charge of a motor vehicle on a road or other public place while unfit to do so through drink or drugs, under section 4 (1) and (2) of the Road Traffic Act 1988, for the years 1996, 1997 and 1998 is given below.

  


Crime

  

1996

  

1997

  

1998

  



Driving 

  while unfit through drink or drugs

  

635

  

720

  

508

  



In charge 

  while unfit through drink or drugs

  

55

  

76

  

124

Mobile Phones

Nora Radcliffe (Gordon) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government requesting the introduction of legislation specifically preventing the use of mobile phones whilst driving.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive has no plans to make representations to the UK Government. If using a mobile phone results in failure to exercise proper control of a vehicle, then that is already an offence under the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986. The police in Scotland consider these existing powers adequate. The Highway Code also recommends that drivers never use a telephone while driving.

Oil and Gas Industry

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to develop employment opportunities in the offshore industry.

Henry McLeish: Industry forecasts predict that employment levels in the offshore industry will fall as the UK Continental Shelf moves further into maturity. One of the main tasks of Pilot is to seek partnership solutions that will extend the life of the UKCS by means of greater international competitiveness. Pilot’s success in these efforts would result in more UK activity and employment than would otherwise be the case. In the meantime the Executive will work with Scottish Enterprise and Grampian Enterprise to develop those employment opportunities that continue to arise.

Oil and Gas Industry

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has met Her Majesty’s Government to discuss Scotland’s oil and gas industry and, if so, what specific issues were discussed.

Henry McLeish: The Executive meets HM Government to discuss the oil and gas industry very frequently. My involvement as Vice-Chairman of Pilot, the successor to the Oil and Gas Industry Task Force, involves regular meetings with the Minister for Energy at the Department of Trade and Industry. Other meetings, at both ministerial and official levels, take place to address specific issues.

Oil and Gas Industry

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what powers and influence it has in relation to the oil and gas industry.

Henry McLeish: Oil and gas is a reserved matter. This does not mean, however, that the Executive has no influence in relation to what is one of Scotland’s most important industry sectors. I am Vice-Chairman of Pilot, the successor body to the Oil and Gas Industry Task Force. Like the Task Force, Pilot is an industry-led initiative, chaired by the Minister for Energy and drawing membership from industry, Government and the trade unions, to develop a partnership approach to maintaining the UK Continental Shelf at the forefront of the industry. In addition, my officials are in constant contact with those at the Department of Trade and Industry, which is the Department responsible for all oil and gas matters.

PETS Passport Scheme

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made, if any, to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food regarding the implementation in Scotland of the PETS Passport pilot scheme; whether any requests have been made for facilities and entry/exit points in Scotland, and whether it will provide details and a timescale for any plans to extend the scheme in full to Scotland.

Ross Finnie: Since Professor Kennedy submitted his recommendations for alternative arrangements to the existing system of quarantine in September 1998, the Scottish Executive has worked in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and other British Isles authorities, in putting together procedures to replace the existing six month quarantine arrangements, all on a UK basis. The pilot scheme introduced on 28 February this year will test the operational effectiveness of the proposed full scheme arrangements prior to these coming into force throughout the UK, this being planned for April 2001.

  The entry points under the pilot scheme were chosen on the basis that they met the requirements of rigorous testing, while at the same time ensuring close supervision of practical operation. Under the full scheme arrangements, entry points are expected to be limited to the existing points of entry under the present six month quarantine legislation, this being in line with Professor Kennedy's recommendations. There are no restrictions on exit points from the UK either under the existing arrangements or under the proposed new arrangements.

  Enquiries received about facilities for entry/exit points in Scotland have been answered on the above basis.

Police

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the added annual cost is of the removal of Crown Exemption for police properties with respect to the rate payments of each Scottish police constabulary.

Mr Jim Wallace: Prior to 1 April 2000 a contribution was made in lieu of rates on behalf of the police estate. Sufficient additional provision was included in the police Grant Aided Expenditure (GAE) settlement for 2000-01 to fully cover the estimated additional direct costs associated with the abolition of Crown Exemption for police properties. The amount estimated by each force for non-domestic rates for police properties is shown in the table below.

  Force   Estimate for non-domestic Rates (£000) Central Scotland Police   388 Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary   247 Fife Constabulary   676 Grampian Police   1,073 Lothian and Borders Police   1,580 Northern Constabulary   574 Strathclyde Police   3,940 Tayside Police   854 Total Funding   9,332

Prison Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the highest number is of prisoners categorised as Category A prior to their transfer to Bowhouse Prison, Kilmarnock who have been detained there at any one time and how many such prisoners are currently detained.

Mr Jim Wallace: There have been no prisoners who immediately prior to their transfer to Bowhouse Prison, Kilmarnock, held Security Category A status.

Public Relations

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much each of its executive agencies has spent on (a) internally sourced and (b) externally sourced public and press relations services since 1 July 1999.

Donald Dewar: I refer you to the answer I gave to question S1W-4597.

Radioactive Pollution

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it undertakes testing for radioactive pollution on the foreshore of the Ayrshire and Solway coasts and, if so, to detail the materials tested for and the test results.

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive to detail the result of any tests it has conducted in the waters off the Solway and Ayrshire coasts for the following pollutants: (a) alpha radiation, (b) beta radiation, (c) Carbon 14, (d) Cobalt 60, (e) Strontium 90, (f) Zirconium 95 and Niobium 95, (g) Technetium 99, (h) Iodine 129, (i) Caesium 134, (j) Caesium 137, (k) Plutonium alpha, (l) Plutonium 241, (m) Americium 241 and (n) Uranium.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) carries out a comprehensive programme of monitoring of environmental radioactivity in Scotland. The programme includes monitoring of the Ayrshire coastline around the Hunterston A and Hunterston B nuclear licensed sites as well as monitoring the Solway coast to assess the impact of liquid radioactive waste from the Chapelcross nuclear licensed site. SEPA also carries out monitoring on the Solway coast to determine the impact of discharges from Sellafield on the Scottish environment.

  The materials sampled on the Ayrshire and Solway coastlines include sediment, seaweed, and turf samples. In addition, SEPA takes measurements to assess dose rates.

  Full details of the monitoring and assessment of radioactive pollution around the Scottish coast are published annually in the Radioactivity in Food and the Environment (RIFE) report. A copy of the current report (RIFE-4) is in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Road Traffic Accidents

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many traffic accidents in 1999 involved children on their way to or from school.

Sarah Boyack: Information is not available centrally about the total number of traffic accidents involving children, injured and uninjured, on their way to or from school. Figures are, however, available showing the number of school pupils aged four to 16 years who were injured in road accidents on a journey to or from school.

  The figures for 1999 are not yet available. In 1998, 597 school pupils, aged four to 16 years, were injured in road accidents on a journey to or from school. Of these casualties, six were killed and 104 were seriously injured.

Shop Closures

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many small shops have closed in each of the last 20 years.

Henry McLeish: It is not possible to provide information on the number of small shop closures specifically, as these data are not collected. The best official guide to the pattern of business closures are VAT de-registrations data. These provide an annual assessment of the number of businesses de-registering from VAT. Many of the smallest businesses are excluded, as only those with a turnover above the VAT threshold (currently £51,000 as of April 1999) are required to register.

  Figures are available for VAT de-registrations in Scotland for the retail and wholesale sector from 1980 onwards. These figures can only be considered to provide a guide to the number of small shop closures. All retail outlets are included in this category, irrespective of size, as well as businesses in the wholesale industry. Analysis at a lower industry level is not available.

  Given the above caveats, the table below shows the number of VAT de-registrations in the retail and wholesale sector in Scotland from 1980 to 1998:

  VAT de-registrations in Scotland in the retail and wholesale sector, 1980-1998

  


Year

  

Retail 

  and wholesale de-registrations

  



1980

  

3,290

  



1981

  

3,010

  



1982

  

3,425

  



1983

  

3,335

  



1984

  

3,205

  



1985

  

3,335

  



1986

  

3,405

  



1987

  

3,535

  



1988

  

3,645

  



1989

  

3,660

  



1990

  

3,490

  



1991

  

3,355

  



1992

  

3,195

  



1993

  

3,665

  



1994

  

3,760

  



1995

  

3,625

  



1996

  

3,345

  



1997

  

3,230

  



1998

  

3,160

  



  Source: Department of Trade and Industry.

  Note: There are breaks in the series in 1991 and 1993, due to the significant rises in the VAT threshold in these years, and in 1994, due to the adoption of the 1992 Standard Industrial Classification (SIC92) and the change from VAT registered unit to VAT registered enterprises. From 1994 onwards de-registrations are for the SIC92 industry sector of wholesale, retail and repair.

Student Finance

Mr Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give details of changes in the level of student support for Scottish domiciled students in academic year 2000-01.

Henry McLeish: I am today placing in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre details of the main rates of loans and grants, including various supplementary grants, which will be available to eligible undergraduate and postgraduate students in full-time higher education in 2000-01.

  The total support available to eligible students in 2000-01 will be 2.5% higher than in 1999-2000, thus maintaining its value in real terms. We are also increasing by the same factor the standard rates of payment made to institutions by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland.

  These changes are consistent with those for England and Wales announced by the Secretary of State for Education and Employment.

Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish any plans and documentation it holds or has received relating to the City of Edinburgh Rapid Transport scheme.

Sarah Boyack: No. This project is the responsibility of Edinburgh City Council who have already published plans and consulted extensively.

Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive to provide details of any information it has received relating to the commercial viability of the City of Edinburgh Rapid Transport scheme.

Sarah Boyack: Such information as has been received by the Scottish Executive on the City of Edinburgh Rapid Transport scheme is commercially confidential. The project is the responsibility of the City of Edinburgh Council.

Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the projected passenger use studies relating to the City of Edinburgh Rapid Transport scheme (CERT) and, if no such studies are available, what it understands CERT’s projected passenger use to be.

Sarah Boyack: The publication of such information is entirely a matter for the City of Edinburgh Council.

Transport

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans exist to monitor and review the effectiveness of the transfer of powers in relation to traffic wardens from the police to Glasgow City Council.

Sarah Boyack: Glasgow City Council will submit regular reports to Scottish Ministers on decriminalised parking enforcement in its area. The report will include, among other things, details of Penalty Charge Notices issued and when they were paid, details of cases going to adjudication, cases where no further action is taken and the number of vehicles the council has removed from the street because they were in breach of parking rules.

  As the parking authority, the council is also required to keep an account of income and expenditure in respect of designated parking places. Statute requires that details of this account are submitted to Scottish Ministers as soon as is practicable at the end of each financial year.

  In addition, the Scottish Parking Appeals Service will submit an annual report to Scottish Ministers on the discharge by the parking adjudicators of their functions in the Glasgow area.

Transport

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the police will still be responsible for assisting traffic wardens in issuing notices to illegally parked vehicles following the transfer of powers to issue such notices from the police to Glasgow City Council.

Sarah Boyack: Most parking offences for most roads in the City of Glasgow area were decriminalised with effect from 4 October 1999. As a result, the relevant parking rules on these roads are now enforced solely by parking attendants employed by Glasgow City Council rather than by traffic wardens or the police as was the case previously. The only roads in the Glasgow area where these offences have not been decriminalised are motorways. On these roads, parking offences will continue to be a matter for the police, who are also responsible for the enforcement of all non-decriminalised traffic legislation throughout Glasgow.

Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-3535 by Sarah Boyack on 28 February 2000, whether it will provide details of any guidelines for operators regarding joint pricing and ticketing initiatives.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive has issued no guidelines to operators on joint pricing and ticketing initiatives.

Veterinary Inspector Services

Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to introduce competitive tendering for local veterinary inspector services.

Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive has no plans to do so at present. We will, however, be taking a keen interest in the outcome of the UK pilot project being conducted in Lancashire, Cheshire, Merseyside and Greater Manchester. That year-long pilot project begins on 1 July 2000.

Water Charges

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people of pensionable age receive water bills.

Sarah Boyack: Information at this level of detail is not available.